Heavy Haze in Pekanbaru, Aircraft Forced to Rotate in the Air Cannot Land

News24xx.com - The haze from the impact of forest and land fires (Karhutla) in Riau Province has caused visibility to decrease on Sunday 22 September 2019 morning. Even in Pekanbaru City, visibility is only 500 meters.

As a result of decreased visibility caused by thick smog, flight activity at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru was disrupted.

Three Batik Air and Citilink flights from Jakarta and Malindo from Malaysia were even forced to spin in the air because they could not land because thick smoke covered the runway.
 
"There are still two holding companies, batik from CGK and Citilink from CGK and possibly Malindo from Subang," said OIC Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru, Beni.

Citilink should land at 07.15, Batik Air at 07.45 and Malindo at 08.30 WIB. But until now still stuck in the air until waiting for safe visibility.

"If Batik, the landing schedule is 07.35 and currently it is still waiting for safe visibility because it is considered insufficient for landing," he explained.

Beni added, the visibility on the airport runway was only 600 meters.

"Usually for landing pilots will ensure a safe distance for safety in landing. At present the visibility is still 600 meters," he explained.

In addition to the three planes, one other route to Pekanbaru also could not land due to the thick smoke haze, the Lion Air plane from Jogjakarta.

The haze triggers visibility to decrease, where in Pekanbaru is only 500 meters. Besides that, in Rengat, Indragiri Hulu Regency and Pelalawan Regency the visibility is also 500 meters.